Victor de la Cruz, Author at My Geek Wisdom

“I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love me.”

From: Notting Hill

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Anna Scott

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the 1999 romantic comedy, Notting Hill. The film focuses on the love story between struggling bookstore proprietor Will Thacker (played by Hugh Grant) who encounters Hollywood superstar Anna Scott (played by Julia Roberts) when she goes into his store to purchase a particular book.

The quote actually comes near the end of the film. Anna returns to the bookstore, hoping they will renew their relationship. Will rebuffs this as he sees them as coming from two totally different worlds: he’s a nobody while she’s a Hollywood A-lister. Anna then tells him that the “fame isn’t really real” and then delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: It shouldn’t matter if two people come from two totally different worlds. It shouldn’t matter what status each person holds in life or how much money they have. These should not be obstacles when two people truly love each other.

Love doesn’t have to be complicated. Love shouldn’t be complicated.

“Better call Saul!”

From: Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Saul Goodman

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from not one, but two television shows. These shows being the phenomenal Breaking Bad and its spin-off, Better Call Saul. Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a nerdy chemistry teacher who gets cancer and decides to manufacture and sell meth in the hopes he will secure his family’s financial future. This starts his downward spiral into a life of crime. One of the more popular characters of Breaking Bad is Saul Goodman (played by Bob Odenkirk), a smarmy lawyer who is familiar with the criminal underworld.

In Breaking Bad, Saul uses the quote as a catchphrase for his commercials.

While it remains to be seen if the quote/catchphrase will be used in the new show or if we’ll see how Saul Goodman comes up with it, it is the title of the show…

Geek wisdom: Everyone needs a little help nowadays but there are times when we can be stubborn and try to tough it out. There is no shame asking for assistance, especially if you know another person will be better at resolving your issue for you.

“Hail Hydra”

From: The Marvel Cinematic Universe (but popularized in Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Various Characters

The story behind the quote: The quote is actually what all Hydra agents say, even in the comics. It was even yelled out a lot during the first Captain America film. However, the quote rose to popularity during one particular scene in the film’s sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

In the scene in question, SHIELD Agent Jasper Sitwell meets with Senator Stern. As Stern leans over and gives a friendly hug to Agent Sitwell, the senator whispers the quote, revealing that both agents are working for the underground terrorist group.

Geek wisdom: Even the people you trust the most may have ulterior motives. They may seem friendly and nice people but you don’t really know what they are thinking or what they’re like behind closed doors.

In this day of age, it’s a good idea to remain skeptical regarding people.

“See? I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.”

From: The Dark Knight

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The Joker

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from one of the most quotable characters of fiction, The Joker, from one of the most modern quotable movies, The Dark Knight.

After The Joker (played by Heath Ledger) is captured, the newly promoted Commissioner Gordon leaves the Clown Prince of Crime in an interrogation room with Batman. The Joker will not reveal where Harvey Dent is located, even after being threatened with bodily harm. The Joker then continues to expound on why the “regular” citizens of Gotham are only “good” because everything is right with the world. But he’s different…

Geek wisdom: Whenever someone tries to create some new innovation, the people who are stuck to the old ways will try to stop them. It doesn’t matter if it will better the world, as long as it threatens the way they do things, they will treat that person like a monster.

We have to think of the future, even though people will try to stop you. Progress is always better than following traditions blindly.

“No sir. I don’t like it.”

From: The Ren & Stimpy Show

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Mr. Horse

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the 90’s Nickelodeon cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show. Ren is frail Chihuahua who is prone to violent outbursts. He’s usually accompanied by Stimpy, a dim-witted and cheerful cat. Although targeted at kids (it is a cartoon after all), the show became controversial because they would show some adult humor which would go over children’s heads.

The quote comes from one of the supporting cast, Mr. Horse. The quote is actually Mr. Horse’s catchphrase of sorts. Generally, whenever Mr. Horse is asked to give his opinion about anything, he would express his negative feelings regarding it.

Geek wisdom: You can’t always be agreeable with everything and/or everyone. Each of us has his own opinions regarding various topics. However, even though something goes against popular opinion, that doesn’t mean that person’s viewpoint is invalid.

We like and dislike things to different degrees. We have to be tolerant with how other people feel on certain topics.

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

From: The Usual Suspects

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Roger “Verbal” Kint

The story behind the quote: The quote comes The Usual Suspects. The film is about Roger “Verbal” Kint (played by Kevin Spacey) telling the police about the crime lord known as Keyser Soze and how he and four other criminals got entangled in his plot.

The first time you hear the quote is during the early part of the film. Kint starts the tale by telling the detective of the brutal origins of Keyser Soze and how he became a legend in the criminal underworld.

But that’s not the only time the quote is mentioned in the film. It’s actually remembered because of the massive twist at the end of the film…

It’s advisable that you watch The Usual Suspect BEFORE you go watch the video posted below as it is one of the best twists in movie history. But, if you’ve watched it before or you don’t care about spoilers, go ahead!

Geek wisdom: There is evil in the world and that’s a fact. But people try to avert their eyes from the fact. We try to pretend it doesn’t exist and all’s right with the world. And that is specifically why bad things happen. It’s because we don’t do anything to fight back.

When we see injustice, we shouldn’t turn a blind eye. Rather, we should take a good hard look at it and try to right the wrong.

“Keep moving forward!”

From: Meet The Robinsons

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: The Robinsons Family

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Disney/Pixar’s Meet The Robinsons. The film is about a boy named Lewis, an aspiring child inventor that hasn’t had that much success. During a science fair, he meet Wilbur Robinson, a boy who claims to come from the future. Wilbur enlists the help of Lewis as he’s the only one that can help him repair his time machine and assist him in the capture of the mysterious “bowler hat” guy who has stolen a more advance prototype time machine and will use it to destroy the current timeline.

The quote, actually The Robinson’s family motto, is said several times. However, the motto is most remembered in one scene where Lewis attempts to repair a gadget. Unfortunately, the gadget malfunctions and creates a colossal mess. Lewis tries to apologies as he expects The Robinsons to get angry. However, the family reacts in the opposite way…

Geek wisdom: It’s very easy to give up when you fail. After all, you’ve didn’t succeed in your task, so why bother even trying? But the thing is we shouldn’t get discouraged from our mistakes and we shouldn’t give up. Rather, we should learn from our mistakes! It’s actually okay to commit mistakes. What’s not okay is we keep repeating the same mistakes and not learn from them.

“Four for you, Glen Coco! You go, Glen Coco!”

From: Mean Girls

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Damian

The story behind the quote: The quote comes the cult classic, Mean Girls. Even though it was released over 10 years ago, many fans still remember the quotes from the film. While some of these quotes weren’t put in the film to be memorable or quotable, the writing of Mean Girls as well as the delivery of the lines actually inserted them into the public consciousness. One such quote comes from the middle of the movie.

Cady and her friends (Janis and Damian) continue with their plot to take down The Plastics, the most popular and meanest clique of the school. One of the ways they plan to do it is to get Gretchen Wieners to turn on Regina George, the leader of the Plastics. One such way was to trick Gretchen into thinking Regina was cutting her out of the group. In order to do this, Damian starts distributing candy canes which were supposed to have come from the other students. And, apparently, Glen Coco, managed to score four candy canes…

Geek wisdom: When people do things that are spectacular, we do take these achievements for granted or, even worse, tell them what they did wasn’t anything special at all. Always remember to give props to people who deserve it as it does help them recognize that what they did was actually something to be admired.

“‘Maybe, Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, in fact, means a little bit more.”

From: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: The Narrator

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the Dr. Seuss’ classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss’ book was already very popular but what catapulted it into the public consciousness was the 1966 animated version. It’s been repeated on television ever since.

The quote comes from the very end of the story. The Grinch after stealing all of the Christmas gifts down in Whoville, waits upon a mountaintop, hoping to hear the villagers wait out in sadness as all their gifts have been stolen. However, instead of crying, The Grinch sees the citizens of Whoville singing for joy. After pondering as to why they’re celebrating, The Grinch comes to a realization about the holiday.

Geek wisdom: Every Christmas, we all get wrapped up with all of the gift buying and all of the gifts we’re going to receive. But, like the Grinch realized at the end of the story, Christmas is much more than that. Christmas is about spreading good cheer to your fellow man, regardless of race, religion and gender. It’s a time to get together with others.

Merry Christmas!

“I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee.”

From: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Lots of NPC guards in the world

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. The game is a massive game that has many people to talk to and many places to explore. However, the game’s most memorable quote doesn’t come from any of the main characters. Rather, it comes from the lowly town guards you see throughout the your time in Skyrim.

The guards have a lot of stock dialog but the most popular one is regarding their past before they became guards…

Geek wisdom: As we grow older, it becomes harder to do the same rigorous activities we used to be able to do in our youth. We also tend to outgrow all of the ridiculous and dangerous activities we did in our younger days. But that doesn’t mean that these days should be forgotten. These are important parts of our life and actually help form you into the person you are now.

There’s nothing wrong with reminiscing about the past. It’s only a problem if we get stuck in the past.